World weatherwatch: Spring brings wildfires, storms and ash plumes

Thunderstorms have killed at least five in the mainland US, while fires plague eastern Russia and volcanic activity has been disrupting aviation in Hawaii

Eastern Russia has been experiencing widespread and intense spring wildfires, thanks to a drier than normal autumn and winter, leading to parched vegetation. As of 17 May, nearly 700 fires had been recorded across 40 territories with about 400 considered extinguished, according to the Russian Federal Forest Agency. As stated by the Global Fire Emissions database, the Amur Oblast region has experienced the most fires per month since 2008.